If you work in the tech industry, you’re probably acquainted with the statistics (and definitely the on-the-ground reality) of women’s underrepresentation in tech roles. But these bear repeating and updating, because they haven’t gotten much better since the pandemic.
According to the Women in Tech Network, a global network for women in tech, women make up just 35% of the tech workforce in the U.S., and the share of women in leadership roles is even smaller at the major U.S. tech companies. Even worse, the network reports, “Survey findings indicate that 65% of tech recruiters acknowledge bias in hiring, and 66% of women report lacking clear career advancement paths in their companies.”
That makes it even more critical to lift up women tech leaders to serve as role models and advocates for their younger counterparts. I saw this in action recently when I attended a session on the topic at the IAUG’s (International Avaya Users Group) Converge conference. The panel included women from a range of generations, and the industry veterans recounted their own early-career struggles with imposter syndrome and the need to build networks, often from scratch.
Getting ahead and growing in your career is often a leap of faith, the panelists agreed; as Marilyn Shuck of Gage Technologies put it, encouraging early-career women to believe in themselves: “Say yes to things that someone has seen in you.”
Enterprise Connect has been trying to do our part to foster women’s careers in communications technology, and our upcoming event will continue that effort. Once again we’d like to ask for your participation and help, by nominating the outstanding women you know in the industry, for our Women in Communications Spotlight award. We’ve been presenting this award annually for almost a decade, recognizing both seasoned leaders as well as rising stars.
The award focuses on women who work within IT organizations at enterprises; you can see a roster of past winners here. It’s one of two awards we present in recognition of outstanding achievement by enterprise IT professionals. The other, our IT Hero award, covers all IT employees and roles, not just women. We’d love to get your nominations for this award as well.
We’ll announce the winners of both awards at Enterprise Connect 2026, March 10 – 12 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. If you know a colleague, customer, mentor, mentee, or peer who deserves to be recognized at the enterprise communications industry’s leading event, I hope you’ll visit the links above and nominate them. I look forward to learning about the outstanding professionals in your life!
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For over 35 years, Enterprise Connect has been the premier event where IT leaders, solution providers, and industry analysts come together to define the future of enterprise communications. As the most trusted conference in the industry, we deliver cutting-edge insights, world-class networking opportunities, and hands-on solutions that drive real business success.
Enterprise Connect is more than an event—it’s an experience that empowers enterprise communications leaders to reimagine the future of work. With elevated content, curated networking, and an engaging atmosphere, it remains the must-attend conference for professionals shaping the industry’s evolution.
Our mission is to equip you with the tools, strategies, and actionable insights needed to address your organization’s unique challenges. With industry transformation in mind, this year’s program introduces fresh new conference tracks, including:
- Legacy Unleashed: Optimizing Your Communications Backbone
- Workplace Reimagined: Engineering Tomorrow's Collaboration
- Tech Disruption Zone: Implementing Without Imploding
- Achieving Transformation: Architecting Your 3-5 Year Roadmap
- Future Shock: Communications Tech Beyond the Horizon
Featuring the most comprehensive program of objective content and an expansive vendor-neutral expo hall, Enterprise Connect is your ultimate resource for advancing collaboration, CX, and AV strategies. Join us to stay ahead, connect with industry trailblazers, and lead the transformation of enterprise communications.